CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

REVIEW. OF; THE YEAR.

EXPORTS AND SETTLEMENT.

TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

The annual luncheon and general meeting i of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce i was held at the rooms of the Chamber, i Swanson-street, yesterday. The retiring | president (Mr. Loo M. Myers) presided . over a largo attendance of members. I Seats at tho president's table were occu- • pied by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. ' J. Parr), Mr. J. H. Gunson (chairman . of tho Auckland Harbour Board, and an ex-president of the Chamber), Mr. Geo. Elliot (vice-president of the Chamber), and Mr. S. J. Nathan, the incoming vice- ) president. Tho luncheon, which was pro- • vided at one o'clock, was an excellent one, | and.was thoroughly enjoyed by all pre- : sent. • Tho annual meeting took place after , tho luncheon. [ . The President's Address. In moving the adoption of the report , and balance-sheet, a synopsis of which has i already been published, the president said that during tho past year many matters ' of importance had come before the Council ~ for consideration and attention. The council bad endeavoured to carry out its duty in regard to these matters, ■ ( and the committee was to be congratulated on having appointed as its executive a body of gentlemen who had devoted themselves most assiduously to their duties. In a growing city and province like that - of Auckland, conditions were so constantly changing that it was essential that those having the direction of its commercial and | industrial life should be keenly alivo to j its changing interests and its various potentialities. Tho improvement in the tone of trade that was felt a year ago when ho took office had'been generally maintained, although the falling-off in value of our Dominion exports to the extent of about £3,000,000 was something that should causo 'all of them earnest consideration. Falling-off in Exports. The articles that were mainly responsible for this falling-off in our export trade were as follows ;— ■'•-' • '■"■ '.' '-- r . £ Gold and Silver " ... 120,000 Kauri Gum ....... 70,000; Butter • ... ... 235,000 Meat . "... ... 350,000 Sheepskins ... ... 108,000 Wool ... ... 1,800,000 Flax- ' •. ... ... 133,000 Hides ' -...'.. ... 65,000 Rabbitskins ... ... 56,000 Tallow ....... 150,000 Last July ho took the opportunity to offer a note of warning to merchants and others against over-importation. The substantial decrease in our exports made a repitition of that warning most necessary, and he sincerely trusted that the advice tendered would not be unheeded. A careful scrutiny of : the figures published would disclose tho fact that the shortage in exports was not confined ■to one province, but appeared to affect the whole Dora inion, our ; own provincial; district being responsible for about £600,000 of the deficiency. Land Settlement Too Slow. Whilst much had been done in the direction of land settlement during the last year/ the demand for land was still unsatisfied, and it was therefore the duty of whatever Government might be in power to throw open for settlement as much of the available> Crown and nativo land as possible with tho greatest despatch., '' Mr. Myers did not hesitate to say that tho increase of our population was not commensurate with our resources, although he recognised that it was not possible for a country with the handicap of great distances ' that is upon New Zeal and to expect to attract population in such large numbers as such countries as Canada and the United States, with their great advantage of proximity to the large centres of Europe. Marine Transportation. Whilst it must ; be recognised that tho geographical isolation ot New Zealand should have the effect of infusing into the population of the Dominion a strong spirit of self-reliance and independence, it, also became a serious handicap in tho struggle for population from outside sources, jl'o enable us to- overcome this difficulty, it must be our aim, by means of marine services, to bring New ' Zealand into closer connection with the large commercial and industrial centres, said Mr. Myers. Immigration was to us a vital necessity, and if we were to compete successfully with Canada, South Africa, and other countries we must prove to the best class of emigrants of the Old Country, that by casting their eyes upon New Zealand as a future homo for themselves and their families, they were not thereby cutting themselves off from reasonable connection with | the Motherland. ■'' " ■■ • ~ | Better Steamer Service Needed. Our connection with Australia was, in his opinion, unsatisfactory. For some time past the council had been. endeavouring to obtain a faster -.service between heCommonwealth and NeW, Zealand. For j the last 20 years, whilst there had been some improvement in~tho class of vessels trading between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, the distance between them had not been materially, shortened. , • " Surely," said Mr. Myers, "our increased population and % our. remarkable prosperity during that, period, as well as the solid outlook for 'the future, justify us in contending 'that some substantial improvement should be effected in the speed of the vessels , connecting us with Australia and with the Motherland. : .":,;•:■'■", The Vancouver Service. "It is gratifying : that during the past year the direct connection between Canada and New Zealand, with Auckland as the port of call,; has become an accomplished fact,", the president went on. "It is to bo hoped that the successful tenderers for this service will be fully alive to the necessity for shortening the time taken in the trip between Vancouver and Auckland. \ ''I am one of those who believe that every day that' can be deducted from tho; time absorbed in the voyage 'from Europe to New Zealand is of great benefit to .us, not alone because of our mails reaching their destination more quickly, but because it is assisting to remove the geographical handicap to which I have already referred. " I would strongly urge upon my successor and his associates the desirability of continuing the agitation for, improved shipping facilities to every country where 1 one can reasonably look for increased trade : or tourist * traffic! " : , , „ < ,'■• \ Railway Anomalies. ; , Referring to railway matters, Mr. Myers :i said that the North still ;/ laboured under the disadvantages of having a smaller mile- -J age of railways than the South. , This -was ' a handicap that we must strive to remove ; as soon as possible, and ;he sincerely ' trusted that the Auckland representatives ] in ; Parliament would use every possible ' effort to increase our railway mileage till 1 it' at least equalled that of the South Island. ;;; : V:' V-'-.rW.

He could conceive of nothing that would make for more rapid and more satisfactory land settlement than increased railway facilities*. ::\ ' '■ ..'■'";, : '- ■■■ '■• ■:-; v..;-.'- ■"-.';'';- :: -:-;;;

.■•' It was gratifying to know that the t improved facilities at the, Auckland goodsshed were now in hand, and that an arrangement had been made with tho Harbour Board whereby a block of 15 acres out of the reclamation of 40 acres would be reserved on completion for the immediate rebuilding of the goods-shed. When this was , accomplished ho trusted that the methods adopted for handling merchandise would bo 'a distinct improvement on 'those now in existence.

"'■";'. Lights on the Northern Ooast. t Although the Chamber had continued its agitation for the improved lighting of the Northern coast, Mr. Myers was still unable to report that; the Marine Department had undertaken to carry out the strong: recommendations made to it through the Chamber by a very largo number of captains of overseas and coastal steamers for a light and fog-signal on the Three Kings. . . It was, he considered, incomprehensible that the Department should be prepared to accept such a serious responsibility as that involved in a refusal to carry out the recommendations of such practical and experienced men. No argument in the shape of expense should be permitted to weigh against the strong claims for safety on behalf of lifo and property. ; v In conclusion, Mr. Myers thanked Mr. George Elliott (vice-president) and members of the executive for their co-operation and assistance during tho past year. Mr. L. J. Bagnall seconded the motion, which, ; alter a discussion (chiefly on the industrial problem, as reported elsewhere) was carried unanimously. ■—

ELECTION IOP OFFICERS.

THE NEW PRESIDENT.; : \

Mr. Georgo Elliot, being the - only candidate nominated for the position of president, was declared by the retiring president duly elected. Mr. Myers remarked that the experience already gained by Mr. Elliot in the many important positions that he had filled, would be of the j greatest value during his term as president of .the Chamber. (Applause.) ;:* ; Mr. Elliot, on taking tho chair, expressed his appreciation of the honour conferred upon him. It was, he remarked, not merely an honour, as his elevation to tho position meant following such an energetic and able president as Mr. Myers. Ho paid a tribute to the time devoted by Mr, Myers to the interests of the Chamber, and the energy and enthusiasm that he had brought to bear on the many questions that, had arisen during tho year. (Hear, hear.) Ho moved a hearty vote of thanks to Sir. Myers for his able services. (Applause.). , The Mayor, in seconding the motion, congratulated his old friend and schoolmate (Mr. Myers) on his successful year of office. Ho would remember the time, some 25 years ago, ' when Mr. Myers and himself studied law together. Mr. Myers had qualified as a barrister of the Supreme Court, and it said much vfor his foresight that ho had foresaken the law and taken up a more lucrative business. (Laughter.) Ho congratulated Mr. Myers on the position he had won and the esteem in which he was held in the community. (Hear, hear.) Continuing, Mr. Parr said that he was glad to see that the Chamber was virile and active, and he congratulated Mr. Elliot on his elevation to the presidency, and also Mr. Gunson, as a young Aucklander, on the important services he had rendered to the city. (Applause.) The motion- was carried unanimously. Mr. S. J. Nathan being the only candidate nominated for tho position of vicepresident, was declared duly elected, and ho suitably returned thanks. Messrs. 'L. J. Bagnall, J. H. Upton, J. M. Mennic, A. B. Roberton, S. A. Longuet. F. E. N. Gaudiii, F. Colbeck, and E. C. Browne were elected without op- j position to fill the eight vacancies on the council of the Chamber. Mr. W. W. Bruce was re-elected auditor. The meeting then terminated.